Sunday, 5 January 2014

5 January 1540 - The Eve of a Wedding

Anne of Cleves was still at Greenwich on 5 January 1540,
waiting for her marriage to Henry VIII. She was entirely unaware of the king’s
desperate attempts to end their engagement, attending mass with Henry in
public.

On 5 January Henry finally bowed to the inevitable, allowing
plans for the marriage to go ahead. As a precursor to this, he signed three
documents, granting Anne estates as part of her dower – lands that were
intended to provide her with her income as queen. The total value was nearly
700 marks, something which ensured that the princess was generously provided
for.

Anne spent the days before her wedding acquainting herself
with her household officers and ladies. An appointment to the queen’s household
was a coveted one, with the Earl of Rutland holding the chief office of
chamberlain. She also employed a chancellor, master of horse, secretary and
receiver general, as well as her own surveyor, auditor, attorney and solicitor.
In order to attend to her daily needs, Anne had a cupbearer, ushers, servers
and her own sergeant at arms, as well as clerks and a chaplain.

She relied on interpreters to speak to these figures, with
two household members - Mistress Gilmyn, who had been sent by Henry to Germany
to teach his bride some English, and a young gentleman, Wymond Carew - taking
this role. Anne would learn English quickly, but the Earl of Rutland still
required an interpreter to understand her in July. Due to the language barrier,
Anne was able to show herself amiable and gracious to her household members,
but was not able to establish real relationships with them, relying on Mother
Lowe, who had come with her from Germany to manage her maids, for advice and
support.

On the evening of 5 January Anne was informed that her
marriage would take place the next day, causing a frenzy of activity in her
household. Henry VIII also spent an anxious evening. When his friend, Sir
Anthony Browne, came to him that evening, the king, who was ‘nothing pleasantly
disposed’, once again commented ‘that he had a great yoke to enter into’.

Anne of Cleves also had much to be nervous about. As she
retired to bed on 5 January 1540, she was hours away from becoming the fourth
wife of Europe’s most notorious – and dangerous – husband.

Anne's signature. She was literate, but far from the type of educated woman that usually attracted Henry VIII

About Me

I'm an author and historian, specialising on the queens of England and the Tudor period. I love all things historical, training as an archaeologist before switching to historical research. I am currently carrying out academic research at King's College, London. I have written several books, including biographies of four of Henry VIII's wives, Margaret Beaufort, Bessie Blount and The Boleyn Women